Last night was the final round of showcases for the CMJ 2011 Music Marathon, and I split my time between Manhattan and Brooklyn, starting at The Delancey and ending at Spike Hill.
The Veda Rays were playing The Delancey as part of the Deli Magazine Showcase, which they just won Artist of the Month in. They played a super short set, and the sound at the venue was less than optimal, but despite the conditions, they still managed to convey deep meaning through their performance and rock it. There were hints at the complexities in their songs despite the somewhat muddled sound, and there were several solid fans there to support them that swore by their musicianship and uniqueness in the current NYC music scene. The Veda Rays have another gig at Bowery Electric on November 2nd, where the tech specs will do their music more justice and they can tear it up even more.
I couldn’t let CMJ end without seeing Active Child, so I headed back into Brooklyn where he was playing the late headlining slot at Spike Hill for the Baeble Music showcase. I got there for the end of DOM’s set, on the luck that a few people were filtering out of the at capacity venue. The Massachusetts-based five piece played their DIY pop to a packed house, and took requests for their last songs of the night.
I saw Active Child a while ago at Music Hall of Williamsburg, after his Curtis Lane EP had come out. Since, he’s released his full length, You Are All I See, and added a drummer and keyboardist/guitarist for a fuller live sound. Most of the songs they played are off the new album, but they did play “When Your Love is Safe” and closed with “I’m in Your Church at Night,” in the video below (which doesn’t capture the sound very well, but you’ll get the idea). Pat Grossi plucked his harp with grace and precision, while singing in his signature classically trained style. The fact that they played my favorite Active Child song as the last song was maybe the best way the end a musically amazing festival.
All Photos (c) Kelly Knapp
